Chris Resop is doing a pretty good Stephen Strasburg imitation these days. Resop may not be a top prospect, but the 27-year-old right-hander is pitching so well that he may not be in the minors much longer than Strasburg. And unlike the Nationals' prospect, Resop has some control over when he arrives in the majors.
Resop, a starter in the Braves' system with big league experience on the Marlins, Angels and Braves, has a clause in his contract that forces the Braves to expose him to the 29 other clubs if he's not on Atlanta's 25-man roster by June 15th. The clause, which Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports explains in detail here, means the Braves are likely to call Resop up or deal him within a few weeks.
Like Colby Lewis, who is in the midst of a strong season for the Rangers, Resop recently pitched in Japan. Unlike Lewis, Resop didn't dominate there. Before he left, Resop threw a 94 mph fastball as a reliever. Now, he's starting in Triple A and his first nine starts have been dominant. Resop has a 2.03 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. He has not been pitching deep into games, but he has allowed just 34 hits in 48.2 innings.
The Braves were confident enough in their starting pitching depth to deal Javier Vazquez last winter, but with Jair Jurrjens recovering from a hamstring injury, their rotation now looks thinner. Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami and Tommy Hanson have four rotation spots covered. Kris Medlen has started well in Jurrjens' absence, but the Braves may decide to promote Resop to maintain pitching depth.
If the Braves are confident moving on without Resop, they could trade him. The Nationals, Mets and Dodgers are among the teams that could look to acquire starters this summer. Resop would be more than just a rental, though – he isn't scheduled to hit free agency until after 2014.
Wish they could trade Lowe and keep Resop, but can’t do that.
I’d prefer Strasburg
Send him to Houston!
I think we should bring him up and send Martinez back down. Let him bullpen-it for a week or so and wean him into the rotation and take Medlen’s spot. If he sucks, no-biggie, just make sure Medlen is ready to give him long relief. If he rules then just use him until JJ comes back and then trade him. He’s been a suprise and a half and it’s not too often that legit trade candidates pop up out of nowhere.
Maybe the Pirates could get him to fill Burres’ spot or he could take Morton’s spot if he struggles some more.
How about giving us your CFer again? JK, but seriously.
EE-GADS!!Can you imagine a OF of McCutchen – Schafer – Heyward? Not only the OF but the top of the lineup being those 3? man oh man. That would almost rival the Orioles OF
The O’s OF looks abysmal this year outside of Markakis, Jones needs to find his rhythm and Nolan is looking awful as well. (I’m still envious of the upside of their OF, but they do need to play up to their ability to regain the fear they’re supposed to instill.)
I think you mean that would almost rival the Dodgers OF.
Medlen has been dealing as a stand in starter for the Braves so much that Resop would be a reliever and not a starter if he got promoted to the Majors.
Medlen has been dealing as a stand in starter for the Braves so much that Resop would be a reliever and not a starter if he got promoted to the Majors.
Trade him, Hicks and someone else to Boston for Ellsbury! lol
Anybody else remembre when the Braves fans on this board were crowing about how this year’s rotation would meet or surpass the dominance of the Braves mid-90’s rotations?
no, but i definitely thought they’d be better, mainly because i wasn’t expecting jj to get hurt and i honestly thought kawakami would build on the good post-april season he had last year. im hoping he’s going to heat up after the slow start like he did last year, but the news about his back isnt good. we all knew lowe probably wasnt going to do great things, but huddy’s been excellent. still a good rotation. oh, and i forgot that medlen’s been great as a spot starter and probably deserves a spot over lowe. too bad we just HAD to have derek lowe and ended up giving him a ridiculous contract…
all in all its still a very good rotation.
I tell you what, should they get into the playoffs, a front three of Hudson, Hanson, and Jurrjens with Medlen as the swingman would be pretty tough.
as for resop, i’d go with my gut and trade him. i watched him pitch with the bravos two years ago and im not sold that he’s really that good. maybe he’s finally figured something out, but i’d think that selling high right now would be the smart move.